How Can the Quest for Longer Life SUCCEED?

The True Hope

That situation however, was not to be permanent. Romans 8:20 says: "The creation was subjected to futility, not by its own will but through him that subjected it, on the basis of hope." Man's Creator, Jehovah God, subjected humans to death because they sinned against him, but when doing this he also established a basis for hope.

This basis was clearly identified when Jesus Christ came to earth. John 3:16 says: "For God loved the world so much that he gave his only-begotten Son, in order that everyone exercising faith in him might not be destroyed bu have everlasting life." How, though, can exercising faith in Jesus Christ save us from death?

If sin is the cause of death, sin has to be removed before death can be abolished. Early in Jesus' ministry as the Christ, John the Baptizer said: "See, the Lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world!" (John 1:29) Jesus Christ was completely without sin. Thus, he was not subject to death, which is the punishment for sin. Nevertheless, he allowed other to put him to death. Why? Because by doing so, he paid the price for our sins. -Matthew 20:28; 1 Peter 3:18.

With that price paid, the possibility of living without ever dying was opened up for all those exercising faith in Jesus. Science may contribute to prolonging our lives to a very limited extent, but exercising faith in Jesus is the real way to everlasting life. Jesus gained such life in heaven, and his faithful apostles and some others will too. Yet, for most of us who exercise faith in Jesus, everlasting life will be on earth, when Jehovah God has restored the earthly Paradise.- Isaiah 25:8; 1 Corinthians 15:48, 49; 2 Corinthians 5:1.

Next time: Everlasting Life on a Paradise Earth

Watchtower, 1999